Closure for bottles



' (NoModeLj G. H. PHELPS.

GLOSURB POB. BOTTLES. No. 554,838. Patented Peb. 18, 1896.

I I M w,

i PATENT rrrcE.

GEORGE H. PI-IELPS, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,833, dated February18, 14896.

Application filed J'une 5, 1895. Serial No. 551,775. (No model.)

To LZZ whom it may concern).-

Be it known that I, GEORG-E H. PHELrs, of Newton, county of Middlesex,and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Olosures forBottles and the Like, of which the following description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a speciiication, like letters on thedrawings representing like parts.

Liquid substances which are applied in small quantities by means of abrush or sponge-such as mucilage, collodion varnish, dac-are usually putup in bottles or other similar vessels closed by a stopper having thehandle of a brush extended therethrough, so that the latter can dip intothe inclosed liquid when not in use. Oollodion varnish is largely usedin vessels of this character as a means of furnishing` ready means forcovering cuts, burns, or abrasions of the skin with an elastic surface,and the varnish is so very volatile that at ordinary temperatures thepressure of the vapor tends to dislodge the stopper and permit theescape of the volatile constituents of the varnish. This varnish, whenput'up in an ordinary bottle provided with the usual cork stopper,frequently cements the stopper in the neck of the bottle so that thecork is apt to be broken off in the attempt to get it out, therebycausing great inconvenience and also possible loss of the varnish byevaporation if another stopper is not at hand to recork the bottle.

This invention has for its object the production of a cheap and simpleclosure for bottles and the like, particularly adapted for use withvolatile substances, whereby the bottle is tightly closed by a stopperheld firmly in place by a removable locking-cap, preventing any escapeof the contents of the bottle or other vessel, even if they are veryvolatile. The stopper is so constructed that the varnish cannot lodgethereupon sufficiently to cement it to the neck of the bottle.

Figure 1, in side elevation, represents a botn tle or similar vesselwith a closure embodying my invention applied thereto; and Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view thereof on the line a: Fig. 1.

I have herein shown the liquid-containing vessel as a bottle a, having aneck a', and screw-threaded exteriorly at a2, Fig. 2. A stopper b, ofcork, wood, or any other suitable material, is adapted to fit the neck aonly at the top of the bottle, an annular flange b on the stopperbetween its ends resting on the top of the neck, the lower part of thestopper being cut away as in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 2 the handle f of a brush f is extended through a longitudinalhole in the stopper, fitting snugly therein, so that the brush may fromtime to time be adjusted to the level of the liquid Z. v

A retaining-cap c, preferably conical in form and of sufficient size toinclose the upper end of the stopper b and the projecting handle of thebrush, has an annular shoulder c and a threaded base c2, the latterengaging the threaded neck, and by means of the shoulder c engaging theilange b of the stopper forces the flange tightly upon the end of theneck a', hermetically sealing the bottle and retaining the stopper inplace.

When it is desired to use the brush the cap is unscrewed and the stopperb can be at once and readily withdrawn with the brush, affording a iirmhold for the fingers of the operator.

Inasmuch as it is not necessary for the stopper itself to iit tightlyinto the neck a' no force is required to remove the stopper, as must bethe case when the tight fit of the stopper in the neck is depended uponto seal the bottle.

Preferably the cap is made of thin sheet metal spun up into propershape.

The upper end of the stopper serves as an extended support for thebrush-handle and a guide for the conical portion c of the cap but it isobvious that the upper portion of the stopper may be dispensed with,and, if desired, the stopper and retaining-cap can be used without thebrush.

I claim- A bottle having an externally-threaded neck, a stopper thereforhaving an annular flange intermediate its length to rest on the end ofthe neck, a brush provided with a handle extended through andfrictionally held in the stopper, and a conical retaining-cap having ashoulder, and zt threaded base to engage name to this specification inthe presence of the neck, the conical portion of the cap inclostwosubscribing Witnesses. ing :mol protecting the brush-handle and theshoulder pressing the stopper-flange tightly GEORGE Il. PIIELPS. 5lagainst the end of the neck, substantially as Vtnesses:

described. JOHN C. EDWARDS, In testimony whereof I have signed myAUGUSTA E. DEAN.

